Chapter 1

Crouching at the edge of the tree line, I glanced around; making sure no one saw us leaving the reserve. Turning to my companions, I said, "The coast is clear. Let's get to the airport like Lupa said to."

My friend Kalia, daughter of Apollo nodded.

I glanced at my other companion, Percy Jackson, and sighed. He showed no sign of having heard what I said. "Percy!" There was no response. 'Greeks!' I thought. "Percy!" I said again. After a moment of him not responding, I lightly shoved him backwards.

He stumbled backwards, arms waving. When he had regained his balance, Percy glared at me. "What was that for?" he exclaimed.

I rolled my eyes and murmured to Kalia in Latin, "How are we going to survive this Greek?" She grinned, barely suppressing her laughter. Turning to Percy, I said, "I said, 'the coast is clear, let's get to the airport.'"

I was surprised to see his smile morph into a look of horror. "Flying? Are all Romans this crazy? Zeus will blast us out of the sky if I go into his domain! Don't get me wrong, I'm all for getting to New York, but this is insane. I prefer not to be just a bit of charred dust on the wind."

I let him rant for a second, knowing he had a point. It was dangerous for children of Neptune (or Poseidon) like, Percy and I, to travel through the air.

Kalia waited until he had cooled down, and then said, "Are you quite done? You know, we can get other transportation."

I felt myself starting to grin and quickly covered my mouth. Taking my hand away and looking completely serious, I said, "We'll be fine. Jupiter isn't doing much these days anyway." Immediately, the sky was lit up with lightning and the ground shook from thunder, as if disputing my words. "Sorry!" I said, not wishing to upset the Lord of the Sky.

Percy looked at me like he was always right and he knew it. "Rebecca, it is just as dangerous for you as it is for me. Let's just take a bus or something."

I glared at him (if looks could kill, Percy would be dead), then growled through gritted teeth. "Fine... We will find a train. Now stop acting like you know everything! You're not that important!"

Percy ginned back. "Oh, but I am!" he said, then marched out into the open, leaving me fuming and Kalia with her eyebrows raise and her mouth in an O shape.

I stalked after him, fingering my silver charm bracelet that held all of my weapons in charm-form. I passed Percy without a word and started leading the way.

I looked around, taking in every tree, bush, and flower. I had grown up with this. I knew every plant by name, and now, because I'm going on this quest, I may never see them again. As soon as that thought surfaced, I mentally berated myself. That was no way for a member of the First Legion to think. We would come back, victorious. And Jacen would be with us.